Contraction compensating work table



May 2l, 1963 E. T. sTRlcKLAND coNTRAc'rIoN coMPENsATING woRK TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug.

May 21, 1963 E. T. sTRlcKLAND coNTRAcTroN coMPENsATrNG WORK TABLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 20, 1958 BY J May 2l, 1963 E. T. sTRlcKLAND 3,090,172 coNTRAcTIoN COMPENSATING woRK TABLE Original Filed Aug. 20, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 www Eig/@w Z BZYV May 21, 1963 E. T. sTRlcKLAND coNTRACTIoN COMPENSATING woRK TABLE 4 Sheets-Shea?l 4 Original Filed Aug. 20, 1958 INV NTOR. www ZJ//md BY a WW United States Patent Oilf6 j 3,090,172 Patented May 21, 1963 ice 3,090,172 CONTRACTION COMPENSATING WORK TABLE Edward T. Strickland, Palm Springs, Calif., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Philbrclr-Strickland Laminates, Inc., a corporation of Washington Original application Aug. 20, 1958, Ser. No. 756,190, now Patent No. 2,995,875, dated Aug. 15, 1961. Divided and this application Mar. 7, 1960, Ser. No. 13,370

4 Claims. (Cl. 51-237) This invention relates to an improved type of structure for locating and supporting work pieces.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved work table whereby a work piece and its support are accurately positioned relative to the table.

Another object of this invention is to provide a work table in which a work piece is supported by a mechanism which automatically compensates for expansion and co-ntraction of the Work piece due to changes in the temperature thereof so as to maintain the rotational axis of the work piece fixed relative to the Work table.

Further objects Vand advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a front elevational View of the machine with parts iof the machine and a work piece broken away;

FIG. 2 is :a Vertical section of the machine taken generally along the line 2 2 in FIG. 3 with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a plan View of the machine;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section on `an enlarged scale taken generally along the line 4 4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view on an enlarged scale of the grinding wheel and gauge mechanism as shown in FIG. l with part of the work piece broken away;

FIG. 6 isa vertical section of the work supporting turntable and its mounting, and is taken generally along the line 6 6 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the turntable shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is la fragmentary elevational View on an enlarged scale of the .adjustable mounting for removably holding ia template; j

FIG. 9 is a vertical section along the line 9 9 in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary plan view on an enlarged scale of part of the work piece .and supportpmounting mechanism shown in FIG. 7; l j j FIG. 11 is a vertical .section taken` gener-ally along the line 11 11 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 12-12 in FIG. 10; and FIG. 13 is a fragmentary perspective view looking upwardly toward the underside of awork piece supporting mandrel showing the locating structure carried thereon. 1 This application is la division lof my application, Serial No.V 756,190 led August 20, 1958, now patent No. 2,995,875, dated August l5, 1961.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many `different forms, there is shown in the 'drawings and will herein be described in detail an embodiment of the invention with the understanding that the present ydisclosure is to be considered as an eXemplifi-cation of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended IOne specific application of this machine tool is the grinding of lair-borne radom-es Iin which electrical transmission .and receiving equipment is mounted within the radome. This use requires extreme accuracy in the over- -all contour of the article, and particularly in the article wall thickness. In order to lavoid adverse effects on the transmission of electrical signals, the article wall thickness must not vary more than .001 inch. These requirements necessitate extreme precision in the grinding loper-ation las produced by this apparatus with the simultaneous grind- Iing and gauging, the support arm systems, the accurate template tracking and adjustment, the accurate rotation of the turntable, and the accurate mounting of an article on the turntable.

As indicated generally in the drawings, the machine comprises a base, indicated generally at A, which supports a turntable, indicated generally .at B, on which a work piece C may be mounted for rotation about the axis of turntable notation. A grinding Wheel carrier, indicated generally .at D, is adapted to support a grinding wheel for movement in :a path generally lengthwise of the rotation axis, and a carrier E is .adapted to support work piece lengaging element, more particularly, a :gauge for movement toward and away from the truntable B in 'a path generally lengthwise of said axis. The carriers D and E are moved in their paths by a -drive mechanism, indicated generally at F, under the control of an operator. The carriers D and E are constructed to support the grinding wheel and gauge for universal movement in the plane of the turntable rotation axis, and each has a follower engageable with -a template profile edge to control its position relative to the work piece to thereby obtain a controlled dimension off the work piece. In the operation illustrated in the drawings, the exterior surface fof a holloW 'object or work piece mounted on a mandrel is being machined so that a controlled -wall thickness is being obtained. With a solid work piece a controlled external dimension of the work piece would be obtained. 'Ihe gauge indicate-s any deviati-ons in article wall thickness from the desired dimension because of its being controlled by a `template profile which corresponds -to the desired Iarticle shape and the inner side of the article wall is closely controlled as to contour by the article supporting mandrel. The grinding wheel carrier yfollower is adjustable to change the relation of the grinding Wheel relative to the -template to compensate for any deviation in article Wall thickness as indicated by `the gauge.

The base A includes a series of upstanding posts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 which are connected 'by lateral members 7 into la rigid constr-uction. A-s .shown in FIG. l, the lower ends of the posts may ibe imbedded in suitable material to rigidly mount the machine.

The turntable B, more lfully described hereinafter, is rotatably mounted in the base A and generally centrally thereof.

The grinding wheel carrier D includes a rst carrier arm 10 pivoted intermediate its ends to the posts 5 and 6' by a pivot shaft 11 extending through the upper ends of the posts 5 and `6. A second arm 12 is pivotally connected -at one of its ends to the upper end of the `arm 10 by a pivot pin 13 extending through the arms.

The grinder support arm 12.f rotatably carries a shaft 14 at an end thereof which supports a grinding wheel. Associated with the support arm 12 are a pair of counter balancing arms 15 and 16 connected to cross members 17 which are rigidly secured to the support arm 12. Each of the arms 10, 15 and 16 are provided with a weight 20 which kfunctions to substantially counterba-lance the weight of the carrier mechanism D for the grinding wheel. The support arm 12 and structure associated therewith are mounted on the carrier arm 10 in a location to swing the carrier arm 10 toward the turntableB.

The shaft 14 carried on the carrier support arm 12, as shown in FIG. 3, carries a lgrinding member in the ormof a wheel 23 which is driven lfrom a motor 24 by a belt 25. The weights 261. on arms 15 and 16 tend to raise the end of support arm 12 carrying the grinding wheel 23. v

The gauge carrier E includes a first support arm 30 pivoted Iintermediate its'ends to the upper ends of posts 1 and 2 by a pivot shaft 31. The first arm 30 has a second arm 32 pivotally connected thereto at one end by a pivot shaft 33 and the second carrier arm 32 carries a gauge mechanism shown in FlG. including a dial with a' pointer. 34 and a movable stem 35 for operating the pointer 34 relative to the scale on the dial. The gauge carrier E further includes a pair of arms 36 and 37 connected to the second carrier arm 32 by cross members 38. The arms 36 and 37, as Well as the first carrier arm 30, each have a weight 40 carried thereon for substantially counterbalancing the weight of the carrier.

The gauge carrier E is located at a side of the turntable B opposite Ifrom the grinding wheel D, and this location may be referred to as a 180 position relative to the .grinding wheel 23. rlhis is the best position for measuring the part being ground, particularly when grinding an article wall to an electrical thickness. This gauging location reads out bearing error'of the turntable due to a slight lobed pattern of theturntable axis of rotation. With 'an odd number of lobes the pattern disappears at 180, at which place the gauging takes place.

A template 45 is located on the base A of the machine immediately to the rear of the turntable B and intermediate the carriers D and E, and has a pair of identical `template profile edges 46 and 47 at opposite edges thereof. The template prole edges "46j and 4 7 determine the path of travel ofthe grinding wheel Vand the gauge, which path is generally lengthwise of the `axis of rotation of the turntable and which includes components transverse to said direction as the grinding wheel and gauge move toward and away 'from the axis of rotation.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the grinding wheel support arm 12 carries a shaft 50 which has a profile fol'- lower roller 51 supported thereon for engagement with the template profile edge 47. The gauge support arm 32 has a template profile follower roller 52 carried on a rotatable mounting shaft 53 supported by the gauge support arm 32. The follower rollers 51 and 52 are urged ltoward the template profile edges 47 and 46, respectively, by the general weight arrangement of the carrier support parts.

The gauge movable stem- 35 is maintained perpendicular to the template profile edge 46 by an arm 55 carrying a profile engaging roller 56 rigidly secured thereto, which is connected to the mounting shaft 53. The arm S5 extends at anV angle of approximately 45 to the gaugestem 35 so as to maintain Vthe gauge stem normal tothe profile edge.

In order to maintain the roller 56 against `the profile edge 46, a cable 57 is' xed to the base of the machine, as Vindicated a-t 58, and extends upwardly about a pulley v59 on the arm 55 and about guide pulleys 60, 61, 62 and 6 3,.and is connected to a weight 64.

The position of the profile follower roller 51 on the grinder support arm 12 may be adjusted by mechanism including a threaded shaft 65 journaled in a collar 66 which forms an inner race for ball bearing 67 on which the follower roller 51 may rotate. An adjusting screw 6,8, carried on the collar 66 has a worm gear 69' formed thereon which meshes with a gear 7d on the threaded shaft 65, whereby rotation of the adjusting screw 68 rotates the threaded shaft 65, to shift the collar 66 and mechanism carried thereby relative to the main support shaft 541-. ln order to obtain accurate adjustment and to enable the movement of the adjusting screw to be calibrated to exact amounts and, more particularly, to one thousandth of an inch, the threaded adjusting shaft 65 is constructed to be maintained normal to the template profile edge 47 by mechanism including an arm 71 xed to the vmain shaft 5@ and carrying a follower roller 72 which contacts the profile edge 47. The arm 71 is arranged at an angle of 45 to the threaded adjusting shaft 6'5 to maintain the adjusting shaft normal to the profile edges 447. The roller '72 is maintained in enga-gement with the profile edge by the cable 57 which also passes around a pulley 73 mounted on the arm 71.

In the manufacture of radomes, as stated previously, the article wall thickness `is extremely critical. Maintaining the threaded shaft l65 normal to the template prole -edge permits adjustment of the grinding wheel as accurately indicated by the gauge.

The grinding wheel and gauge are moved in paths generally lengthwise of the turntable axis of rotation by operating means which includes a reversible motor under the control of an operator and which is mounted on a support column 81. The motor has an output Yshaft 82 connected to a lead screw 83 by a right angle drive mechanism 83a. The lead screw rotatably connects with a threaded block 84.

The threaded block 84 is carried on Amechanism including an arm 85 pivoted intermediate its ends to the upper ends of posts 3 and 4 of the base by a pivot shaft 86. A second interconnecting arm 87 is pivoted adjacent one of its ends to the arm 85 by a pivot shaft 88 and the threaded block 84 is carried at the inner free end Vof the second arm 87. A pair of lateral extensions 89 and 90 are carried at said end of the second arm 87 with the extension 89 pivotally mounting a generally upright arm 91 by a pivot` pin 92. The lower end of the upright arm 91 is connected to the shaft 50 of the grinder support arm 12, as shown in FIG. 4. A second generally upright extension 93 is carried on the lateral extension 90 by a pivot pin 94, and at its lower end is connected to the shaft 53 carried on the gauge Vsupport arm 32; Y *With the'foregoing mechanism the movement of the threaded block 84 along the lead screw 83 as the lead screw rotates will result in a compound movement of the interconnecting arm system including arms 85 and 87, and this movement through the generally upright arms 91 and 93 will be transmitted to the support arm 12 of the grinding wheel carrier and the support arm 32 of the gauge carrier. The upright arms 91 and 93 are free t0 'pivot' about their pins 92 and 94 to permit generally transverse movement of the grinding wheel and gauge along with the movements thereof generally lengthwise of the turntable axis of rotation and the upright arm 93 is notched at 93a to clear the lead screw 83.

With the foregoing structure it is possible to grind and simultaneously gauge a work piece to maintain a desired wall thickness of a hollow article or a desired eX- ternal dimension of a part corresponding to a shape of the template profile edges.

In order to partially counterbalance the weight of the interconnecting arm system, a weight 95 is mounted on the arm 85 and a weight 96 is mounted on the arm 87 by a bracket 97, and the weights urge the arms 85 and A87 toward a straight line relation.

The template 45 is mounted in the machine for ease of removal and for ease of setting up in accurate position by mechanism including a rod extending out from both faces of the template 45 with the rod resting in a pair of locating V-blocks 101 and 102 which function to locate the template in one dimension and along a desired center line. A pair of adjusting screws 103 and 104 fixed to the `base of the machine threadably connect the template to the base of the machine to locate the template in a plane to be engaged by the follower rollers 51 and 52 and may be adjusted to locate the template pivotally about the axis of the rod 100. The adjusting screws 103 and 104 pass through apertured stops 105 and 106, respectively, attached to the template. Each of the V-blocks 101 and 102 includes a rod clamp including a yoke 107 interlocked with the blocks and a threaded rod clamp screw S.

Ordinarily, a work piece will have a mandrel located therewithin which is accurately located on the turntable. Before grinding the work piece it is necessary to accurately located the template 45, and this may be accomplished by approximately locating it in position and then a grind may be made at the top and 4bottom of the work piece to a depth as determined by the template profile. Gauging of these two grinds will then reveal whether or not the template is properly located relative to the mandrel hidden within the work piece. If the gauge reads the same at both locations of the grind, then the template is properly located. If the gauge readings are diierent, this then indicates adjustment of the adjusting screws 103 and 104 is necessary to properly align the template. This step may be repeated as many times as necessary.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the turntable mechanism B includes a base plate 12.@ provided with an annular bearing face 121 adjacent its periphery. A turntable 122 having a lower face is disposed adjacent the upper face of the base 126-, and is rotatably mounted on the base 120 by a drive shaft 123 which extends downwardly from the turntable through a bearing 123g in base 120 and has a pulley 124 driven by a ybelt 125 passing around a drive pulley 126 driven by a motor 127. The drive shaft has universal connections 127a and 127b and its lower end is mounted in bearing 127e.

The turntable 122 is oatingly mounted on the base 120 `by flowing a fluid between the turntable 122 and the base 120 at a relatively slow rate and a relatively low pressure. The uid iiows into the area between a raised section 128 of the turntable lower face and the face of the base which, in effect, forms a cylinder through a line 129. The fluid exerts a piston eect to support the substantial weight of the turntable, the work piece and a mandrel which supports a work piece on the turntable. The fluid then ows between the lower face of the turntable 122 and the bearing face 121 of the base to provide a very thin film and maintain the turntable rotating in a fixed plane of rotation. The fluid owing 'beyond the bearing face is then collected by return pipes 130 and returned to tank (not shown).

As a speciiic example, a controlled flow of kerosene of approximately one pint per hour at about 3 p.s.i. is fed into the cylinder area. The drive shaft 123 and ball bearing 123g provide lateral placement of the turntable 122 while the fluid in the cylinder area serves as a hydraulic piston carrying most of the weight of the turntable and parts supported thereon.

In order to seal fluid from the drivel shaft 123, an O ring 131 is positioned between the turntable and its base.

In the manufacture of radomes, the work piece is normally made up of a laminate embodying thermosetting resins which requires the heating of the work piece supported by a mandrel. The grinding of the surface occurs subsequent to this heating, and it is often desirable to proceed with setting up of the work piece for grinding prior to return of the work piece and mandrel to room temperature. In order lto compensate for the slight contraction of the mandrel while returning to normal ternperature, mechanism is provided lfor maintaining the center line of the mandrel and work piece on the axis of turntable rotation. This mechanism includes three members in the form of 'blocks 135, 136, and 137 disposed in a circular disposition on the upper side of the turntable adjacent the periphery thereof and which are equally spaced from each other. As shown in FIG. 12 each of the blocks has a V-shaped groove with a pair of wear plates 138 and 139 iitted therein. The underside of the mandrel 140 has three similar members in the form of blocks, one of which is shown at '141, which are also equally spaced apar-t about the periphery of the mandrel and located to overlie the blocks 135, 136 and 137 on the turntable 123. The mandrel blocks 141 each have ya downward facing V-shaped groove 142. 'I'he grooves in the `turntable blocks and in the mandrel blocks all radially extend from the center of the circular disposition of the Iblocks. A rigid metal ball 143, 144 and 145 is associated one `with each of the pairs of blocks and is located between the V-shaped grooves.

With this construction, the mandrel may only properly locate in one position relative to the turntable with the balls 143, 144 and 145 fully seated in the coacting V-shaped grooves. As the mandrel 140 contracts, this contraction may take place without disturbing the aligned relation of the mandrel with the turntable axis of rota- `tion since the mandrel position is at all times controlled by -the balls rand grooves to maintain the centerline of the mandrel coincident with the turntable axis of rotation.

I claim:

11. A structure for accurately positioning a mandrel on a turntable tor rotation therewith comprising, a turntable mounted lfor rotation, a mandrel supported on the turntable, three upwardly open V-shaped grooves circumferentially equidistantly `spaced apart adjacent the periphery of the turntable in a circular disposition, said grooves extending radially off the circular disposition center, three openings carried on the underside of the mandrel in a circular disposition and in positions to overlie the turntable grooves, a plurality of rigid balls associated one with each groove and opening and confined therebetween to locate the mandrel relative to the turntable in a predetermined position by the balls being fully seated in their associated opposed groove and opening.

2. In a grinding machine, a structure for accurately supporting a mandrel comprising, a support, a mandrel on said support, three upwardly open radially extending V-shaped -grooves equidistantly spaced apart adjacent the periphery of said support, three matching ball receiving openings carried on the underside of the mandrel, and a plurality of rigid balls associated one with each pair. of grooves and openings and confined therebetween to locate the mandrel relative to the support in a predetermined position determined by the balls being fully seated in their associated grooves and openings.

3. In a grinding machine, a structure -fo-r accurately `supporting a mandrel comprising, a support, a mandrel on said support, three upwardly open radially extending grooves on the support in a circular disposition and circumferentially equidistantly spaced apart, three matching members carried `on the undenside of a mandrel with each having a downwardly facing spherical opening, and a plurality of rigid spherical members `associated one with each pair of grooves and openings and conined therebetween to locate the mandrel relative to the support in a predetermined position determined `by the balls being fully seated in 'their associated grooves and openings.

4. A. structure yfor accurately positioning -a work piece mandrel, comprising, a turntable base rotatable about an axis of rotation, a mandrel supported on said turntable base, lower support means including at least three upwardly open radially extending grooves equidistantly spaced apart adjacent to the periphery of said turntable base; upper support means including similarly spaced matching grooves on the underside of the mandrel, means for locating the mandrel on the lower support means and for compensating for expansion or contraction of the mandrel due to temperature variations including rigid spherical balls associated one with each pair of opposed i grooves and conned therebetween 5to locate the mandrel in a predetermined -position deter-mined by the balls being fully seated in their associated grooves, and said locating means being movable relative to said top and lower support means when contraction or expansion occurs in the mandrel whereby a contractionor `expansion of the mandrel will'vchange the radial location dimension'of the upper support means causing a corresponding change in the radial location dimension of the Aspherical balls without disturbing the aligned relation of the mandrel with the turntable axis of rotation since the mandrel position o is at yall times controlled by the balls and grooves to main; tain the center line of the mandrel coincident with the turntable axis of rotation.

References ied in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,334,898 Gyllsdori Mal. 23, 1920 2,155,680 Pfauter Apr. 2-5, 1930 2,362,667 Schmidt Nov. 14, 1944 2,394,376 Grylewicz et -al Feb. 5, 1946 V2,783,687 Roberts Mar. 5, 1957 

2. IN A GRINDING MACHINE, A STRUCTURE FOR ACCURATELY SUPPORTING A MANDREL COMPRISING, A SUPPORT, A MANDREL ON SAID SUPPORT, THREE UPWARDLY OPEN RADIALLY EXTENDING V-SHAPED GROOVES EQUIDISTANTLY SPACED APART ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID SUPPORT, THREE MATCHING BALL RECEIVING OPENINGS CARRIED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE MANDREL, AND A PLURALITY OF RIGID BALLS ASSOCIATED ONE WITH EACH PAIR OF GROOVES AND OPENINGS AND CONFINED THEREBETWEEN TO LOCATE THE MANDREL RELATIVE TO THE SUPPORT IN A PREDETER- 